Harry P. Leu Gardens

Leu Gardens' collection covers 15,500 specimens across 50 acres. The parts worth planning around:

• Camellias: more than 200 varieties and 1,700 plantings, many planted by Harry P. Leu himself, under the live oaks of the Woodland Gardens. The gardens call it one of the largest recorded camellia collections in the United States. Camellias flower in the cool months.
• Azaleas: 30 varieties, peaking in white, pink and purple in February and March, per the gardens.
• Rose Garden: dedicated to Mary Jane Leu, who first planted roses by Lake Rowena in 1944.
• Palm Garden: more than 300 species.
• Tropical Garden: a stream through dense planting down to the lake shore, with orchids, bromeliads, gingers and heliconias.
• Edible Garden and Tropical Fruit Collection: citrus, avocado, jackfruit, lychee, mango and more; the gardens donate almost all their produce to food banks.
• Arid Garden and Butterfly Garden, plus a bamboo collection of 50 species.

Early closings are posted for Saturday, October 17, 2026, Saturday, February 13, 2027 and Saturday, April 10, 2027, each at 4 p.m. with last entry at 3 p.m. The gardens close on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Members get an early hour, 8 to 9 a.m. daily. Garden areas can close without notice for weddings and events, which the gardens state on the ticket terms.

Leu Gardens opens free to the public on sponsored days. The next four are Monday, October 5, Monday, November 2, Monday, December 7, 2026, and Monday, January 4, 2027. Expect more people on those days, especially after 10 a.m.

• Active-duty military with ID: always free.
• Retired military and veterans: free on Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Armed Forces Day.
• Museums for All: SNAP cardholders with ID get free admission for themselves and up to three others.
• American Horticultural Society reciprocal members: free for up to four people with a valid card.

Separate tickets are needed for special and night events.

Enter through the Welcome Center, where tickets are sold. Head first to the Woodland Gardens and the camellias under the oaks, which are the shadiest part of the property. Then loop down to Lake Rowena and the Tropical Garden stream, and finish in the Rose Garden and the Foxtail Marketplace & Cafe for a drink.

Two hours is plenty for most people. In summer, arrive at 9 a.m. and leave by 11 a.m. The gardens are not a children's attraction, although the fruit trees and the butterfly garden hold a child's attention for a while. With younger children, the Orlando Science Center is about 1.5 miles away by road and makes a better second half of the day.

Leu Gardens is at 1920 North Forest Avenue. From I-4, take exit 85, Princeton Street, and follow the signs. By road it is about 3 miles from downtown Orlando and about 22 miles from Disney Springs, so it works best as part of a day in the city rather than a trip from the parks.

Good pairings: the Morse Museum in Winter Park, about 4 miles north; a walk around Lake Eola downtown; or lunch in the Mills 50 district on the way back. See our Orlando without theme parks itinerary for a full day.